Former U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka, 41, has been denied a wild card for the upcoming hard court Grand Slam, preventing what many expected to be a final appearance on tour at Flushing Meadows.
The U.S. Open announced its finalized men's singles wild-card list over the weekend, with Wawrinka's name absent. This marks the end of his professional career without a final Grand Slam sendoff in New York.
While there are no strict rules governing wild cards, tournaments often extend them to domestic players, returning athletes recovering from injury, or established favorites nearing retirement. Gael Monfils, also in his final year on tour and a fan favorite despite not holding a Grand Slam title, received a wild card. Wawrinka, ranked 125th, is significantly higher in the rankings than Monfils, who is 305th. Players ranked in the top 100 automatically qualify for the main draw.
Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg suggested that a rule similar to golf's exemptions for former champions within a certain ranking could be implemented to prevent similar situations in the future.
Wawrinka's career has included three Grand Slam titles: the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015, and the U.S. Open in 2016. He reached a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in 2014. He came close to achieving a career Grand Slam after reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2015.
Farewell Tour Moments
Wawrinka has experienced several emotional send-offs during his farewell tour throughout the year. Following his final clay-court match at the Estoril Open in July, he was presented with a memento of his match shoes and honored by fans holding face masks of his likeness. He also received an emotional send-off at Wimbledon, where he teared up after his first-round match against Matteo Berrettini, forming a heart with his fingers and waving to the crowd. This marked his last appearance on a Grand Slam stage as an active player.